No Cops Around this Time – Thank God!

We woke up in Torrey and mingled with the travelers. It turns out this little secret is getting out to everyone but the locals. We chatted with some folks that came in from New York to visit Hell’s Backbone Grill, and a couple from Colorado that were doing the red rock tour.

Light dusting of snow in Torrey

Snow was on the bikes this morning, a light brushing. We dusted them off and moved them into the sun. Soon we were riding through Capitol Reef National Park and enjoying the red rocks and winding road. I love this place – it reminds me of Sedona without all the people. The green trees from the orchids just stand out against the reds of the rocks and the blues in the sky. All landscapes are alive, but this area is truly vibrant and joyful. We continued on to Hanksville for lunch and then on to the Moki Dugway. Problem was… there is nothing out there. There is one rest stop, but we failed to stop. Sure enough, faced with needing to go to the bathroom, and the Alaska mentality, we just stopped to go in the woods.

Potty break in the woods

Glen Canyon Rec Area Overlook

Glen Canyon Rec Area

Now I know you are all remembering the time a cop caught us for public urination in Arizona, but we weren’t yet in Arizona, so.. technically we had no record in Utah. And we had to go. What surprised me though, was that Gene and Arlene were game too! I felt so bad. I also kept thinking… oh gosh… don’t let a cop show up…. Not with Gene and Arlene! Gene actually told me later they were chuckling about the experience… he even told Arlene to lean her back up against the fence post for stability… but don’t slide your ass across it.. you will get slivers.  They made it back to the bike. Not sure if they will ride with us again?

Gene and Arlene have been great sports

The Moki Dugway is an amazing drop of the plateau to the desert floor below. The switchbacks are winding on top of each other, the road is gravel. We had a grand time dropping to the floor. Shortly after we split, Gene and Arlene headed to the hotel in Bluff, Ut. while we went off road and traveled through Valley of the Gods (VG).

Check out the road on the GPS at the Moki Dugway.

Switchbacks down the side of the mountain... everyone is a spec... look close.

VG was amazing. What I like about this place is that you can get back there right up against the rocks. No people. We had the whole place to ourselves. It was so beautiful. The road was for the most part pretty tame sprinkled with a couple of gravel and sand surprises. We had Go Pro #3 with us on this trip (having lost or damaged the previous 2). We were able to travel fast. I switched the Go Pro to the helmet and got a lot better coverage. I was reluctant to put stickers on my $700 helmet, but I caved. We finished out short adventure and rolled into bluff.

Playing in the dirt, near Valley of the Gods, Utah.

New GoPro location.. on my head... what a dork.

Valley of the Gods

Michael had a grin a mile wide and said “Riding the road is a sacrifice that must be made in order to get to the dirt.”

Pavement is an necessary evil to reach the dirt...

We met up with Gene and Arlene for dinner at Two Rocks Café. After dinner, I searched town for fresh fruit to top off the snack bin – none to be had. What fruit Bluff had to offer was “growing” in the case.

Twin Rocks for dinner, Michael.

I have no idea what is going on here, but the car was parked next to us in the lot.. you figure it out.